The Los Angeles Dodgers have outdone themselves in recent years with some huge signings, perfectly culminating in the 2024 World Series. With a roster chock full of expensive contracts, no one was really be surprised. But are lucrative deals always the answer to getting October glory? The Pittsburgh Pirates were not exactly huge spenders in 2024 but they still saw significant success. And a recent statement from the Pittsburgh Pirates’ rookie pitcher, Paul Skenes, has raised eyebrows.

The regular starter, who also featured in the 2024 All-Star game, was the No. 1 pick for the then-lowly Pirates. But Skenes is ready to compare his team with the powerhouse Dodgers. In his recent interview, Skenes made some comments about the Dodgers and their recruiting strategies. As reported on theScore, “If you go out and sign the (Shohei) Ohtanis, maybe it (winning) becomes a little bit easier … but there’s no reason we can’t play fundamental baseball and execute at a very high level without having players like that.”  

The blue crew have consistently made it to the postseason in recent years and also won two World Series since 2020. They have had one of the best lineups in the game so far and are still wanting to improve, which has led to them spending some big bucks in the market. With a payroll of $238,547,431 in 2024, some big signings in the current off-season like Blake Snell, Tommy Edman, Theoscar Hernandez, Tanner Scott, and Kim Hye-seong have joined them.

Costing a total of $406.5 million with Blake Snell costing $182 million, the biggest was of course Shohei Ohtani’s 10-year, $700 million deal. While 2024 was a huge hit, what Skenes is really asking is will these investments pay off in the long term? We will have to wait and see.

Meanwhile the Pirates spent $8 million on two free agents, Caleb Ferguson and Andrew McCutchen, this offseason, a huge contrast to the Dodgers’ $450 million. With some new additions and new coaching staff, Skenes is hopeful that the Pirates will be able to improve on the ability to build on their experience and perform better than last season.

“You can say whatever you want about the acquisitions and all that, but we need to play better, too,” the soon-to-be-MLB-sophomore said, per thScore. But looking at it historically, does big spending usually equal big wins?

Big spenders are not always the big winners in MLB

In the past seasons, there have been some teams that have been spending big money but have not won anything. In the 2024 season, with the highest payroll of $317,778,899, the Mets had a rough start with a 24-35 record. However, they managed to turn things around and posted the best record in baseball from June 3 onward. This impressive comeback earned them a postseason spot.

The Yankees were one of the biggest spenders, with an expenditure of $308,606,869. They had an excellent season as they finished the season with 94-68. Their offense was considered one of the strongest in MLB by Aaron Judge and Juan Soto. They qualified for the first time since 2009 in the World Series but ultimately lost against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

With a payroll of $255,187,523, the Astros faced a challenging start, going 7-19 and trailing the Mariners by 10 games by mid-June. Despite the tough beginning, they rallied to win the AL West title, showcasing their resilience throughout the season.

With a payroll of $238,547,431, the Dodgers had a tremendous year, finishing at 98-64 for the MLB regular season. They then took home the World Series as the New York Yankees fell in five games. Standouts on this juggernaut included Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman, just to name a few.

While big bucks could equal big talent, Skenes is warning that that should not be the only criteria of teams to go after the big trophy.